Hope Chapel, Bristol

A picture of Hope Chapel.
Hope Chapel, Bristol

Hope Chapel is a church on Hopechapel hill in Hotwells, Bristol. It was founded by Lady Hope and Lady Glenorchy in 1786 to serve Clifton and Hotwells, and visitors to the nearby hot well.[1] It has been designated as a Grade II listed building.[2]

Lady Hope and Lady Glenorchy established the chapel in Hotwells after visiting the Georgian natural hot spa resort but finding that the only place of worship was up a steep hill in Clifton.[3] By 1851 the church had an attendance of 600 to 700 in the morning and 700 to 800 in the evening. By the 1970s attendance was falling and by 1980 was no longer used as a place of worship.[4] In 2000 it reopened as a community congregational church specifically aimed at meeting the needs of families and is used as a venue for a variety of events.[5][6]

The south front has four bays with pilasters. Within the hall there is a balcony supported on cast iron columns.[2] The interior includes memorials to many members of the congregation from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.[7]

Between 2006 and 2013 Bristol and Regional Archaeological Services (BaRAS) maintained a watching brief overseeing works to excavate the crypt ready for conversion into public space.[3]

Archives

Records of Hope Chapel, Hotwells are held at Bristol Archives (Ref. 38545) (online catalogue) including baptism, marriage and burial registers.

References

  1. Foyle, Andrew (2004), Bristol, Pevsner Architectural Guides, Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-10442-1
  2. 1 2 "Hope Chapel". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 "BARaS case study page". Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  4. "Hope Chapel (Hope Community Church), Hotwells, Bristol". Church Batabase. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  5. "Our Hope". Hope Chapel. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  6. "Bristol: Hope Community Church". Congregational Church. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  7. "Hope Chapel, Hotwells: Monumental Inscriptions.". Bristol Family History. Retrieved 12 November 2016.

External links

Coordinates: 51°27′05″N 2°37′18″W / 51.45130°N 2.62160°W / 51.45130; -2.62160

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